Dossier
Multifunctional agriculture
Multifunctional agriculture is an umbrella term used to indicate companies that combine their agricultural production and environment with services to society: care farming, farm education, farm shops/short chains, agricultural day care, agricultural nature management and agrotourism. Key to these services is the relationship between farms and civilians/consumers. In other words, multifunctional agriculture is the reconnection of agriculture to society.
Wageningen University & Research conducts research into the growth and potential of multifunctional agriculture. Together with multifunctional entrepreneurs, we develop new business concepts and revenue models and support these through research into required competencies and skills.
Multifunctional Agriculture in the Netherlands
News
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Experts call for a clear definition of Agri-PV
- Experts from Wageningen University & Research (WUR), TNO and Renergize Consultancy have drafted a policy paper advocating for a clear definition of Agri-PV. Agri-PV combines agriculture with solar energy production, allowing both food and energy to be produced on the same plot of land. The experts warn that clear guidelines are essential to prevent agricultural land from being primarily used for energy generation. The policy paper follows the Dutch government’s parliamentary letter on the ' Aangescherpte voorkeursvolgorde zon’, in which the government stated that the use of agricultural land for solar farms is undesirable unless it is also used for food production. -
Educational care farm offers dropouts perspective
- The education sector faces significant issues with budget cuts, long waiting lists, and early school dropout. National action plans must address these bottlenecks. A study conducted by Wageningen University & Research, Radboud University, Praktikon and the Kohnstamm Institute shows that educational care farms offer perspectives. Researcher Jan Hassink: ‘This green environment builds children’s confidence, which results in 80% of the pupils returning to some form of schooling within one or two years.’ -
Researchers see a future for agricultural solar parks, but also challenges
- Solar parks and agriculture do not have to be placed on separate fields. It is possible to combine both functions on the same field, researchers from Wageningen University & Research and Renergize Consultancy write in their position paper Producing food and electricity on the same square metre - Researchers see a future for agricultural solar parks, but also challenges . This new concept provides opportunities, but also requires new knowledge as well as modified legislation and regulations.